Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

i 

Table of Contents 

Title Page 

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... i to vi 

Summary ............................................................................................................................... S-1 to S-25 

Chapter I – Purpose and Need 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1-1 

Changes Made Between May 2009 EA and This FEIS ...................................................................... 1-2 

Document Organization ...................................................................................................................... 1-2 

Location and Area ............................................................................................................................... 1-2 

Background ......................................................................................................................................... 1-3 

Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................................................. 1-4 

Proposed Action .................................................................................................................................. 1-5 

Tiering and Incorporating by Reference ............................................................................................. 1-8 

Project Record ................................................................................................................................... 1-11 

Forest Plan and Interim Direction ..................................................................................................... 1-11 

Treaty Rights ..................................................................................................................................... 1-15 

Decisions To Be Made ...................................................................................................................... 1-16 

Vicinity Area Map ............................................................................................................................ 1-17 

Chapter 2 - Alternatives 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2-1 

Changes Made Between May 2009 EA and This FEIS ...................................................................... 2-1 

Tribal and Public Involvement ............................................................................................................ 2-1 

Issue Identification .............................................................................................................................. 2-2 

Key Issues ........................................................................................................................................... 2-8 

Range of Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 2-9 

Alternatives Considered in Detail ....................................................................................................... 2-9 

Alternative A – No Action ................................................................................................................ 2-10 

Alternative B – Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 2-10 

Design Features and Management Requirements ................................................................ 2-24 

Monitoring ........................................................................................................................... 2-31 

Alternative C ..................................................................................................................................... 2-32 

Sale Area Improvements ................................................................................................................... 2-35 

Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study .......................................................... 2-36 

Comparison of Alternatives .............................................................................................................. 2-40 

Chapter 3 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences 

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 3-1 

Changes Made Between May 2009 EA and This FEIS ...................................................................... 3-1 

Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions ................................................................ 3-1 

Soils 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................... 3-4 

Affected Environment ............................................................................................................ 3-5 
Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

ii 

Environmental Consequences ................................................................................................ 3-6 

Finding of Consistency ........................................................................................................ 3-10 

Hydrology 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-10 

Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 3-11 

Clean Water Act ...................................................................................................... 3-14 

Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 3-16 

Finding of Consistency ........................................................................................................ 3-22 

Fisheries 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-23 

Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 3-24 

Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 3-35 

Finding of Consistency ........................................................................................................ 3-43 

Vegetation (Elk Flats Meadow and Insects and Disease) 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-43 

Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 3-44 

Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 3-54 

Finding of Consistency ........................................................................................................ 3-61 

Fuels 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-62 

Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 3-62 

Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 3-71 

Finding of Consistency ........................................................................................................ 3-75 

Air Quality 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-76 

Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 3-76 

Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 3-76 

Finding of Consistency ........................................................................................................ 3-79 

Invasive Plants (Noxious Weeds) 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-79 

Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 3-80 

Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 3-83 

Finding of Consistency ........................................................................................................ 3-84 

Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Plants (TES) 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-84 

Affected Environment .......................................................................................................... 3-85 

Environmental Consequences .............................................................................................. 3-85 

Finding of Consistency ........................................................................................................ 3-86 
Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

iii 

Wildlife 

Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3-87 

Old Forest (Key Issue)

Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-87 

Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 3-89 

Elk Habitat (Key Issue) 

Affected Environment ............................................................................................. 3-91 

Environmental Consequences ................................................................................. 3-93 

Management Indicator Species (MIS)

Affected Environment – American Marten ............................................................ 3-97 

Environmental Consequences – American Marten ................................................. 3-97 

Affected Environment – (MIS Associated with Dead Wood Habitat) ................... 3-98 

Environmental Consequences – (MIS Associated with Dead Wood Habitat) ...... 3-102

Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive (TES) Wildlife Species .................................. 3-104 

Affected Environment – Canada Lynx ................................................................. 3-105 

Environmental Consequences – Canada Lynx...................................................... 3-105 

Affected Environment – Gray Wolf ..................................................................... 3-106 

Environmental Consequences – Gray Wolf .......................................................... 3-107 

Affected Environment – Sensitive Species ........................................................... 3-108 

Environmental Consequences – Sensitive Species ............................................... 3-109 

Northern Goshawk 

Affected Environment – Northern Goshawk ........................................................ 3-111 

Environmental Consequences – Northern Goshawk ............................................ 3-112 

Landbirds (including Neotropical) 

Affected Environment .......................................................................................... 3-113 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 3-115 

Finding of Consistency (Wildlife) ........................................................................ 3-117 

Range 

Scale of Analysis ............................................................................................................... 3-117 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 3-117 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 3-118 

Finding of Consistency ...................................................................................................... 3-120 

Transportation System 

Scale of Analysis ............................................................................................................... 3-120 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 3-120 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 3-121 

Finding of Consistency ...................................................................................................... 3-122 

Recreation 

Scale of Analysis ............................................................................................................... 3-122 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 3-122 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 3-123 

Finding of Consistency ...................................................................................................... 3-124 
Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

iv 

Visual Resource (Scenery) 

Scale of Analysis ............................................................................................................... 3-124 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 3-124 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 3-125 

Finding of Consistency ...................................................................................................... 3-126 

Wild and Scenic Rivers 

Scale of Analysis ............................................................................................................... 3-126 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 3-126 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 3-127 

Finding of Consistency ...................................................................................................... 3-129 

Wilderness and Undeveloped 

Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 3-131 

Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and Contiguous Potential Wilderness Areas (PWAs) 

Background ........................................................................................................... 3-133 

Scale of Analysis .................................................................................................. 3-134 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 3-134 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 3-135 

Finding of Consistency ......................................................................................... 3-136 

Grande Ronde Potential Wilderness Area/Inventoried Roadless Area (PWA/IRA) 

Background ........................................................................................................... 3-136 

Scale of Analysis .................................................................................................. 3-137 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 3-138 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 3-139 

Finding of Consistency ......................................................................................... 3-146 

Other Undeveloped Lands 

Background ........................................................................................................... 3-146 

Scale of Analysis .................................................................................................. 3-147 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................... 3-147 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................... 3-149 

Finding of Consistency ......................................................................................... 3-152 

Economic Analysis 

Scale of Analysis ............................................................................................................... 3-152 

Affected Environment ........................................................................................................ 3-153 

Environmental Consequences ............................................................................................ 3-153 

Finding of Consistency ...................................................................................................... 3-155 

Climate Change and Carbon Analysis ........................................................................................ 3-155 

Climate Change and Silviculture Management ................................................................. 3-156 

Climate Change and HRV ................................................................................................. 3-156 

Forest Carbon Analysis ...................................................................................................... 3-159 

Compatibility of Proposed Forest Vegetation Management Activities 

with Carbon Sequestration ................................................................................................. 3-162 
Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

v 

Specifically Required Disclosures ................................................................................................ 3-163 

Other Resource Concerns and Opportunities ............................................................................ 3-167 

Chapter 4 – Agencies and Persons Consulted 

List of Preparers 

List of Preparers and Agencies and Persons Consulted ...................................................................... 4-1 

Glossary ........................................................................................................................ Glossary-1 to 21 

Index ..................................................................................................................................... Index-1 to 5 

Literature Citations ............................................................................................................. L-1 to L-22 

APPENDICES 

Appendix A –Maps - See listing below for maps included in this appendix: 

Management Areas 

Subwatershed Area Map 

Alternative B – Silviculture Prescriptions and Harvest Methods 

Alternative B – Fuel Treatments 

Alternative C – Silviculture Prescriptions and Harvest Methods 

Alternative C – Fuel Treatments 

Other Activities Common to Both Alternatives 

Appendix B – Planning Unit Treatments by Alternative ................................................... B-1 to B-3 

Appendix C – Roads ............................................................................................................. C-1 to C-3 

Appendix D – Best Management Practices (BMPs) ........................................................... D-1 to D-6 

Appendix E – Soils ................................................................................................................. E-1 to E-4 

Appendix F – Consistency with Eastside Screens .............................................................. F-1 to F-4 

Appendix G – Response to Comments – May 2009 EA ................................................. G-1 to G-192 
Cobbler II Timber Sale and Fuels Reduction Project FEIS 

vi 

Appendix H – Potential Wilderness Inventory, Methodology, and Maps .................... H-1 to H-14 

See listing below for a maps included in this appendix. All maps are identified with a letter and number 

in the lower right hand corner 

Map H-2 – Potential Wilderness Areas– Composite of Maps H-3 to H-7 

Map H-3 – Project Planning Area 

Map H-4 – Removal of Past Timber Harvest 

Map H-5 – Forest Roads 

Map H-6 – Acres not containing Past Timber Harvest or Forest Roads 

Map H-6b – Acres Not Containing Past Timber Harvest or Forest Roads within and adjacent to Project 

Planning area 

Map H-7 – Forest Service Inventory of Potential Wilderness Areas 

Map H-8 –Interaction between Potential Wilderness Areas and Alternative B Harvest Units and 

Prescribed Burning 

Map H-9 - Interaction between Potential Wilderness Areas and Alternative C Harvest Units and 

Prescribed Burning 

Map H-10 – Interactions between Other Undeveloped Lands and Alternative B Harvest Units and 

Prescribed Burning 

Map H-11 - Interactions between Other Undeveloped Lands and Alternative C Harvest Units and 

Prescribed Burning 

Appendix I – Response to Comments - DEIS .................................................................... I-1 to I-133 

Appendix J – Consideration of Best Science ................................................................................... J-1 

Appendix K – Consideration of Maps submitted by Sierra Club et al. ........................... K-1 to K-6